Former University of Akron pitcher Chris Bassitt is scheduled to make his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday for the Chicago White Sox.

Bassitt, who pitched at UA from 2009-2011 and recorded a career ERA of 2.29 in 70 2/3 innings pitched, will start the second game of a doubleheader for the host White Sox against the Detroit Tigers. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m.

“I’m extremely happy for Chris,” UA coach Rick Rembielak said in a prepared statement. “He’s done very well at each level he’s pitched and it’s great to see him reach a milestone in his baseball career.”

Bassitt, 25, was drafted by the White Sox in the 2011 MLB Draft in the 16th round. He appeared in 23 games across three levels of the minor leagues and posted a 1.82 ERA over 34 2/3 innings pitched as a rookie.

About that swarming defense – yeah, the one that looked like something found in the SEC before they found offense and fell all in love with 41-40 games. That looked good on an Akron Zips team. They made great use of their speed to hold the Howard Bison to 216 total yards, all while harassing Bison quarterback Greg Maghee all night.

About this middle linebacker C.J. Mizell: After the game he looked as if he was ready to go another four quarters and I have little doubt that he could have done so at the level that netted him 10 tackles and a fumble recovery. Mizell, who sat out last year after transferring, played like a beast on Red Bull.

About that Kyle Pohl mobility: It’s real, very real. You never want to have your quarterback lead the team in rushing in any game as Pohl did tonight. However, it’s nice to know that he has the capability to run out of jams and run on designed plays. “Not all of those were needed scrambles,” he said. “It was just a thing that I wasn’t seeing what I needed to see or wanted to see.” Ultimately, he said he needs to learn to stay in the pocket to make the big throws.

The University of Akron football team left an impression at InfoCision Stadium Thursday night after beating Howard University 41-0 as quarterback Kyle Pohl flashed some potential and the Zips defense showed how dominating that it can be.

Yes, it was Howard, but when was the last time UA was 1-0 to start a season? Try 2007.

It took a four touchdown passing performance from junior quarterback Kyle Pohl, who connected with sophomore wide receiver Mykel Traylor-Bennett on two of them. On an unseasonably cool August night, the Zips’ defense provided all the heat needed stifling the Bison.

The Akron Zips begin their third season under coach Terry Bowden tonight at 7 at InfoCision Stadium against Howard University.

In that short time, Bowden and his staff have gotten the team moving in the right direction attitudinally, what remains to be seen is whether it shows on the field.

“We’re definitely not there yet,” Bowden said in his weekly press conference. “Potential is what we still have. We haven't done it yet. I think to some point changing the culture to me is when players go on the field and deep down inside - subconscious or otherwise - they feel like they’re going to win and not lose, good things are going to happen and not bad.”

In other words, Bowden expects his team to embrace the expectations this year. Questions remain, however and the answers will begin to come against Howard. Here are five things to look for tonight against the Bison:

The Akron Zips defense – especially the front seven – is expected to be the strength of the team at the beginning of the football season.

The team finds itself in an enviable situation. Although they returned two speed defensive ends, they added more speed in the person of Se’Von Pittman. Local folks might remember his as the guy who used to terrorize quarterbacks at Canton McKinley a few years back.

The Mid-American Conference football coaches released their pre-season poll Monday and selected the Akron Zips to finish second in the league’s East Division behind Bowling Green.

They selected the Northern Illinois Huskies to take first in the West Division. The Huskies won nine first place votes from the MAC’s coaches while Bowling Green picked up 11 first place nods.

Earlier this summer the media predicted Bowling Green (East) and Toledo (West) would win their respective divisions. The Zips' season opens Thursday with them taking on Howard. Below find the coaches' results:

University of Akron football coach Terry Bowden’s father, Bobby Bowden, appeared at the team’s kickoff luncheon Friday and offered more than a few opinions on the state of college football. Most can be read in tomorrow’s edition of the Akron Beacon Journal.

But there was one choice nugget that worries him in the era of autonomy: agents.

“I am definitely not a fan of agents,” Bowden said.

That has been a conundrum for the NCAA for years as agents find ways to ingratiate themselves with athletes even with the stringent rules that college sports’ governing body now has.

Akron Zips football coach Terry Bowden released the following statement clarifying the status of two players involved in an off-the-field incident earlier this summer:

"Johnny Robinson and Donte Williams returned to practice this week. They are still in violation of team rules and have been taken off scholarship. In order to play football this fall as seniors, they must each pay their own way. Johnny will not start in the opener against Howard."